Rubber-compound paving block



.0. 2 192?, R. F. HERRICK RUBBER COMPOUND PAVING BLOCK Filed Semi. 16, 1924 Fag. 4

fizz #067175 0/ "5 w, J M

Patented Au 2, 1927.

RUFUS IE. HERRIGIK, F WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

RUBBER-CGMPOUND PAVING BLOCK.

Application filed September 16, 1924. Serial No. 38,018.

This invention relates to an improved rubber compound paving block, or slab for roadways, and further the invention relates to an improved roadway of which the said blocks constitute the uppermost surface, the

same being an improvement upon the invention disclosed by me in my application Serial No. 688,297, filed January 24, 1924 en titled Roadway with surface of rubber coinpoundl- Theobject of the invention is to provide a paving. bloclr of rubber compound which may he readily and cheaply manufactured, and which may be quickly and practically 1E- laid to constitute the uppermost surface of a roadway, such a roadway being practically noiseless when vehicles pass thereover and extremely. comfortable for the occupants of said vehicles, the upper rubber compoun surface; being yielding, and further a the blocks would be much lighter than granite and would impart less vibration when used on bridges. i

The rubber compound proved paving bloclisare constructed may contain fibrous material and may he constructed from old rubber and fabric automobile tires. The paving block constituting this invention is made of suitable thickness all and size, preferably of rectangular outline and about an'inch and a halt'thick, and upon the under side of the completed paving block a plurality of anchoring projections integral with the paving block are provided which extend preferably longitudinally of the block and transversely of the roadway in which they are incorporated.

These anchoring projections are prelierably tapered, the opposite laces thereof W converging downwardly from the under face of the paving block so that the blocks may be readily moulded and also readily inserted in a layer of temporarily plastic material, such as sand cement mortar, and when the send cement mortar has hardened, the paving loloclrs will be firmly imbedded therein and will cohere thereto.

lt is evident, however, that the anchoring projections may have the opposite laces W thereof parallel without departing from the spirit of my invention, the preferred form of the projections being tapered, however, as this form is more practical fromthe moulding standpoint, and also for the laying of the block on the surface of the temporarily plastic material, the tapered projections beill oiwhich my iming more easily and practically forced into the temporarily plastic material.

The paving block of this invention may be moulded with a roughened under surface and the projections thereon may also have roughened surfaces.

The invention consists in the improved paving-block for roadways and in a roadway of which said paving blocks form the uppermost layer, all as hereinafter set forth in the specification and particularly as pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an underneath lan view of a paving block embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the paving block. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line (1 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the block in its normal position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail illustrating a portion of a roadway with the paving block of my invention incorporated therein.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of my improved paving blocks, the anchoring pro ections he ing shown with their opposite faces parallel.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

l n the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 to linclusive, 5 is a paving block of rubber compound which consists of a body portion 6 with ribs 7 extending longitudinally along one surface thereof. When the blocks are laid, however, to form the upper surface or a roadway, the ribs 7 extend transversely of the roadway. I

The blocks are of rubber compound, but may have a mineral aggregate consisting of sand or stone chips incorporated therein, or

may be constructed with fibrous material,

therein so that old discarded automobile tires may be used for the purpose.

The opposite laces 7' of the projections or ribs 7 converge downwardly, thus making it practical and easy to mould the blocks of rubber compound. in series, preferablyI parallel to each other and spaced. apart, 0th longitudinally and transversely otthe block, thus leaving spaces 8 and 9 therebetween, and also the outer ends The ribs 7 are arranged or the ribs are spaced apart tram t e ends of the block so as to provide spaces 10 between the outer ends of the ribs and the adjacent ends of the block, the'object of this arrangement and construction belllilg to ermitt e temporarily plastic mater' suc' as sand her.

this application constitutes the principal dilference between it and the paving blocks disclosed in my aforesaid application.

In order to more securely anchor the pav-' ing blocks in the layerof temporarily plastic material, rods or wires 11 are provided which project through the anchoring projections 7 and are spaced apart from the under face of the bodyportion 6 of the block. These rods preferably project at their opposite ends beyond the anchoring projections so as to still more securely anchor the block to the layer of temporarily plastic material.

In Figure 5 amodified form of the paving block of this invention is illustrated which is like thepaving block illustrated in Figs. 1 to inclusive, except that the anchoring projections 12 have parallel faces 13 instead of being tapered. The body portion 6 is thesame as inthe form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and the anchoring rods 11 are the same and are attached to the projections in the same man- The roadway is constructed by first constructing a layer of macadam, or other suitable material 14, then upon this layer which constitutes the base is superimposed a layer of sand cement mortar 15, which constitutes a cushion, and while the sand cement mortar.

is soft or temporarily plastic, and before it sets, the uppermost layer 16 of the roadway is laid thereon, this layer consisting of a plurality of paving blocks of the construction hereinbefore set forth, the paving blocks being forced into the layer 15 of sand cement mortar while the same is plastic or soft, preferably by means of a light steam road roller.

The paving blocks having been laid as set forth with the ribs 7 projecting downwardly therefrom into the layer of sandcement mortar 15, the sand cement mortar will then set and securely lock the upper layer 16 to setting therein.

the sand cement mortar layer 15, and the sand cement mortar layer 15 will be firmly positioned upon and locked to the macadam or base 14: of the roadway by the sand cement mortar projectin into said base and r The oints between adja cent blocks may be filled with sand, hot bitumen or rubber compound.

F or bridge construction on an ordinary roadway surface thereof, however, the, layer 15 preferably consists of Portland cement mortar, and the base may be of any suitable material.

While the material of which the paving block is composed has been hereinbefore set forth as of rubber compound, it is evident that without departing from the spirit of this invention any material which canv be moulded into the form of a paving block with anchoring projections thereon would be the equivalent of rubber, so far as this invention is concerned, and it is to beunderstood that I do not confine my invention to a paving block of rubber compound, but although rubber is the preferred form, the paving block may be composed of other compounds such, for example, as asphalt or bituminous compounds.

It will also be understood that the article of this invention is not confined specifically to a paving block for streets, but may be used with modifications as to thickness, etc. for what is known as industrial tiles.

li claim A paving block for roadways constructed in one piece of rubber compound and comprising a body portion having a fiat bottom face and a series of ribs extending longitudinally thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom, the opposite side faces of said ribs converging downwardly and said ribs being spaced apart both transversely and longitudinally of said block and from th opposite. sides and ends thereof, the spaces between said ribs being open at their opposite ends, and rods projecting through said ribs and spaced apart from the fiat bottom face of said block.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RUFUS F. HERRICK. 

